Leaders at Shrewsbury secondary school praised by inspectors
Staff at a Shrewsbury secondary school have been praised by inspectors for their leadership following a recent visit.
Meole Brace School was visited by Ofsted inspectors last month and they deemed that the school deserved to retain its 'good' rating.
The headteacher Alan Doust was commended for his 'clarity and renewed ambition to the leadership of the school' since he joined at the start of the year.
Dr Elizabeth Ellis-Martin and Lois Kelly said: "There is a renewed focus in the school on academic success, particularly for higher-attaining pupils and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Staff, governors, pupils and parents have all welcomed your appointment and your inclusive approach to bringing about any necessary change.
"Teachers have benefited from a wide-ranging programme of training and work hard to plan lessons that cater more for the needs of different pupils. The attendance and achievement of disadvantaged pupils has improved.
"However, some disadvantaged pupils still do not do as well as they should in GCSE examinations and higher-attaining pupils are not challenged evenly enough in all lessons.
"Senior leaders now work closely with subject leaders to review how well each subject area in the school is performing. Your recent review of progress in all these areas has led to rapid identification of what else needs to be done to improve the school even further."
The inspectors said that the governing body of the school was well-led.
"They understand their role in collectively holding the school to account," they said. "Pupils are cared for well at the school. Behaviour is usually good and swift action is usually taken if any misbehaviour occurs. Senior leaders and their staff work assiduously to ensure that pupils are safe."
They have recommended that the school and its leaders now work to ensure that pupils who are most academically able and those who are disadvantaged are supported further so that they achieve even more and that teachers are given more specific advice about how to improve their practice.
